Tag: Thai food

This Stall In The CBD Serves ‘Thai Cai Png’ – Mix And Match Basil Pork, Green Curry For $5

Apart from a few exceptions, Thai food is something that you pretty much have to eat in a group — with most eateries serving dishes à la carte, it’s not possible for one person to get everything they’d want without overordering and burning a hole in their wallet.

Order the green curry, for example, and you’ll wish you had some basil chicken to go with it. Order both, and you’ll soon realise that even the smallest portions weren’t meant for a party of one.

Basil & Mint, however, changes all that.

Thai Food Meets Cai Fan

Located conveniently at the first level of Amoy Street Food Centre (a mere three minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT), Basil & Mint is a small, unassuming stall that makes full use of its limited space — the storefront is lined from end to end with cooking pots, filled with an assortment of Thai-inspired meat and vegetables.

This isn’t the result of poor space management, though — unlike most eateries that make you commit to a single dish, Basil & Mint operates on a cai fan-esque system instead, where you can mix and match different dishes to create the perfect plate of Thai food.

And in true cai fan fashion, it’s incredibly affordable too, with prices starting from $5 for the classic order of one meat and two vegetables. If that isn’t enough, additional meat and vegetables go for a reasonable $2 and $1 respectively as well.

The mind (and hands, considering that she cooks and serves the food as well) behind Basil & Mint is a woman who goes by the name of “Vee”. She’s not Thai, but her previous job in the airline industry did allow her to make many Thai friends, who then taught her how to cook their native dishes in an authentic way.

Made With Love

Having ordered two plates, my team and I were able to sample pretty much everything that was available (considering that it’s a one-woman operation, it’s understandable that the selection isn’t as extensive as an actual cai fan stall).

While I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it’s better than the food I’ve had in Bangkok, there is a distinct, home-cooked feel to everything — the general taste is something I can best describe as “hearty”, and you can really tell that Vee makes every single dish with love.

While select dishes like the moo palo (AKA Five-Spice Pork) are packed with flavour, others like the basil chicken and bean sprouts are a little too light for my tastes.

That’s where the green curry comes in, though — providing a savoury kick without going overboard, the curry helps to unlock the flavour of other dishes, and everything comes together for an extremely satisfying bite. If there’s one thing that you have to order here, this is it.

Special mention also needs to be said about the portions — Vee is extremely generous when scooping from those cooking pots, and the standard $5 order is more than enough to get you into a food coma (whether that’s a good thing is a whole other thing altogether).

With a unique concept, wide selection and cheap prices, Thai food lovers owe it to themselves to give Basil & Mint a try. It takes all the hassle of choosing what to eat out of the equation, and provides a uniquely homely flavour that you won’t find in your average Thai eatery.

Basil & Mint — Thai Street Eats
Address: Amoy Street Food Centre – 7 Maxwell Road, #01-47
Opening Hours: 11:30AM – 2PM (Monday to Friday), 5PM – 8PM (Monday to Thursday)

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Also Read From Korean Sandwiches To Steaks, Here Are 10 New Eateries In Century Square Worth Checking Out

(Header Image Credit: Discover SG)

6 Dishes Crazy Rich Asians Should Have Tried At Newton Food Centre Instead Of Satay

If the sheer number of articles, videos and opinion pieces showing up on our news feeds in the past week are any indication, it’s clear that we’ve reached peak Crazy Rich Asians hype.

There’s been a lot of discussion surrounding the movie, and while we’re generally okay with how Singapore was portrayed, one scene that did irk us was when the main characters visit Newton Food Centre and declared its satay as the best in Singapore.

Uh…no. We’re not calling ourselves the ultimate authority on food, but we’re pretty sure that we’ve had better ones at East Coast and Lau Pa Sat, at the very least.

While it might not have the best satay, it *is* true that Newton Circus is home to some really good eats. If you’re planning to head down to this iconic hawker centre to channel your inner Rachel Chu, here are the six dishes that you should be trying out instead:

Bee Heng Popiah

If you’re looking for an appetiser before going all-out, then Bee Heng Popiah ($4.40 for a minimum order of 2) is pretty much the only right choice here.

The generous amount of shredded turnip is probably enough to warrant a place on this list, but it’s the skin that’s the real star of the show. Unlike other Popiah’s it has a light, sweet taste of its own, which blends well with the other ingredients of egg, nuts and shrimp.

The soft skin makes for a weak foundation, however, and there’s about a 60% chance that the abundance of ingredients will spill out before you can bring it to your mouth.

Some might prefer more structurally sound Popiah’s, but if you’re willing to put up with the mess you’ll be treated to one of the tastiest versions of this beloved dish that we’ve had.

Bee Heng
Unit: #01-12

XO Bak Chor Mee

There’s Bak Chor Mee…and then there’s XO Bak Chor Mee ($4.50).

If you’re a fan of minced meat noodles and haven’t tried this variant, you owe it to yourself to. Thanks to the addition of…well, XO, the noodles don’t dry out as fast, and quite literally add a new layer of savoury taste to it.

The “meat” part of the dish isn’t anything to scoff at, either — the pork was extremely lean and pretty much melted in our mouths, and the minced meat was so abundant that we had enough to put in every spoonful.

The best part of the dish, however, is still the Fuzhou fish ball, which might honestly be the best Fuzhou fish ball that we’ve ever eaten. There’s only one per bowl, which is probably a good thing because any more would lead to a full-blown addiction.

XO Minced Meat Noodle
Unit: #01-10

Kwee Heng Duck Noodle

On their own, the ingredients of Kwee Heng’s Duck Noodles ($4) aren’t anything to write home about — the noodles and soup are standard prawn noodle fare, and the duck strangely enough tastes a bit like chicken.

When eaten as a whole, however, the flavour profile is flipped on its head in the best of ways. The saltiness of the soup is perfectly complimented by the lighter taste of the meat, creating a balanced taste that’s just the right amount of savoury.

And if for some reason that isn’t enough, adding a hint of chilli further enhances the flavour with an extra kick of sweet spiciness. We admittedly weren’t expecting much from this dish, but it quickly grew to become one of our favourites.

Kwee Heng
Unit: #01-13

Stall 51 Hokkien Mee

With the use of thinner noodles, Stall 51’s Hokkien Mee ($5) is reminiscent of those served at Old Airport Road or Serangoon Gardens’ Chomp Chomp, and taste just as good as well.

The dish has just the right amount of wetness, and retained its consistency even after being left on the table while we got our other dishes (the hallmark of a good Hokkien Mee). The amount of seafood is decent enough, but its the generous serving of egg that really puts this on a whole other level.

And what’s Hokkien Mee without some good chilli? The owner jokingly warned us about how spicy his blend was, but despite its belachan-esque appearance we found it to be more sweet and spicy, and added a new dimension to the dish’s flavour. Needless to say, we wiped the plate clean.

Stall 51
Unit: #01-51

Alliance Seafood

Being awarded the coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand for two years straight is no small feat, but we can totally see why the folks at Alliance Seafood managed to do so. The stall is probably best known for their Chilli Crab and Cereal Prawns, but we decided to go for the other crowd-favourite choice of stingray ($12) instead.

the meat was well-cooked throughout, and flaked off the bone as soon as we applied the slightest amount of pressure with our chopsticks. The dish is also lathered with sambal, and while it wasn’t as spicy as we would have wanted it to be, has a rather sweet taste that grows on you.

Much like Kwee Heng’s Duck Noodles, the two ingredients are okay on their own, but produce an entirely new taste when eaten together. We’d recommend flaking all the meat and giving it a good mix before eating to achieve the maximum effect.

Alliance Seafood
Unit: #01-27

Bangkok Express

When you think of “good Thai food”, the usual suspects like Nakhon Kitchen and…well, the entire Golden Mile Complex are usually the first places that come to mind.

Don’t let the rather random location of Bangkok Express fool you, though — with food prepared by an actual Thai chef, this unassuming stall will give your favourite haunts a run for their money, and is one of the best-kept secrets of those working around the Newton area.

Their extensive menu offers everything from Phad Thai to Basil Chicken, and with so much food already on our plates we decided to go for the Seafood Tom Yum Soup ($6).

While most Tom Yum dishes will have you ordering another cup of sugar cane, this iteration is surprisingly light on the spiciness, while still packing a strong, sweet flavour at the same time. They’re pretty generous with the seafood part as well, with squids and prawns appearing in pretty much every spoonful.

Bangkok Express
Unit: #01-04

Also Read 5 Must-Order Dishes At Hougang’s Hainanese Village For $4 And Under

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

Clash Of The Thai-tans: Top 5 Dishes To Try At This Upcoming Thai Food Festival

While Singapore is burning up, no thanks to this accursed weather, I still find the appetite for Thai food.

If you’re a big fan of Thai cuisine, then you’ll be happy to know that the Chang Sensory Trails Food Festival is back for its third edition at The Lawn @ Marina Bay!

Organised by Thai beer brand, Chang, the food festival spans 3 cities in 3 continents and features our 3 favourite things – food, art and music.

This year’s festival will showcase 24 dishes from 8 Thai restaurants in Singapore – Aroy Dee, Bangkok Jam, Baan Ying, Gin Khao, Little Elephant, Long Chim, Tamarind Hill, and Un-Yang-Kor-Dai.

But in a sea of 24 signature Thai dishes, I’ve singled out the ones that you NEED to go for because OH MY GOD they’re good.

Let’s get to it.

1. Aroy Dee – Thai-Style Prime Ribs

You know when you order premium Bak Kut Teh, and they serve a HUGE rib bone in a tiny bowl?

This is that, but instead of it cooked in a peppery broth, the prime rib here is simply fried enough to keep it juicy and served with Aroy Dee’s signature sauce.

2. Gin Khao – Watermelon Fried Rice

When we saw this, I was VERY confused, to say the least. I mean, Pineapple Fried Rice took a while for my tastebuds to grapple with.

Then Gin Khao decides to take things to another level with their Watermelon Fried Rice. And it’s quite loaded – it comes with salted egg fish skin, nuts, floss, and watermelon cubes (of course).

If you’re looking to expand your food horizons, then you need to try this.

3. Tamarind Hill – Deep Fried Prawns With Crispy Noodles

This dish is almost like a deconstructed dragon beard roll that’s traditionally found in dim sum menus. Prawns and a crispy fried strands of carb. This combination has proven to work, and this is no exception.

4. Little Elephant – Grilled Pork Neck

While this dish sounds simple, it’s packing a lot of flavour. Pork neck is a cut of meat that’s evenly marbled and is never dry.

Grilling is one of the more common cooking methods for pork neck and it’s a simple way to bring out the flavour and texture of the cut of meat.

If you want something easy to eat, this is it. Don’t forget to dip it with their chilli sauce!

5. Un-Yang-Kor-Dai – Grilled Chicken

This dish is a classic recipe from the city of Khao Yai in Thailand. Half a chicken is marinated with coriander and white peppercorns before being grilled to perfection.

So simple yet so good. Plus, it’s healthier if the chicken isn’t fried, right? *wink* Now excuse me while I enjoy my healthy grilled chicken.

A Multi-Sensory Festival

Of course, other than the food, you can expect entertainment in the form of musical performances by cover bands, O.K Ready! and 53A.

Watch 53A perform at the National Day Parade 2016 below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSCQoYtJZjU

The food festival spans 2 days, 31 August to 1 September 2018, at The Lawn @ Marina Bay and most importantly, ENTRY IS FREE!

So if you’re in the mood for some authentic Thai food, there’s no need to travel all the way to Bangkok.

See you at the Chang Sensory Trails Food Festival!

Chang Sensory Trails Food Festival
Venue: The Lawn @ Marina Bay
Date: 31 Aug – 1 Sep 2018
Time: 4pm – 10pm
Website

Also read Foodpanda Pops Up At Amoy St This September With Food, Booze, Music And Workouts

(Header Image Source: Chang Sensory Trails)

A Suaku Singaporean’s Virgin Visit To ‘Little Thailand’ Golden Mile Complex

There is only one reason for me to head towards Beach Road. The ICA.

However, I have friends who used to go there weekly – to Golden Mile Complex for a wild night in a Thai disco before ending the chaos with a semi-drunk Mookata meal.

I’ve never had that experience and I sure as heck wasn’t going to start now.

I’ve never been to Golden Mile Complex because there was no reason to (and also it seems dodgy as hell) and it’s too out of the way for me to just pay a visit and explore.

So for the sake of discovering Singapore, I made my way to Golden Mile Complex, with a friend who knows her way around the mall of course.

The First Step Into Little Thailand

With Singapore being known as a melting pot of cultures, it’s no surprise that many ethnic groups have taken root in different spots in the city and Golden Mile Complex has long been considered Singapore’s own “Little Thailand’.

The moment I stepped out of the Grab car, I was hit with a stench that can only be described as “old fishy cardboard”.

And it got worse as I entered the mall. It wasn’t hard to find the source of the stench though. I’ve never seen wet market produce being sold in malls. I mean, yes I know supermarkets exist, but a regular shop selling produce inside a mall, is new to me.

The smell is just stuck in the ventilation now. Please send help. Ambipur or Febreeze, anyone?

The assault on my nose ceased shortly when we were greeted by an atrium of sizzling pots of Mookata. God yes, redemption! This isn’t so bad.

After a cinematic 360-degree camera-under-your-chin “Let me look around in wonder like I’m in an MV” moment, we headed to the Thai Supermarket.

Because why not start there? A supermarket in an ethnic enclave gives pretty good insight as to what the culture and community is about. So off we went.

The first thing we noticed by the entrance of the supermarket was a lady selling fritters. We had a recommendation from a colleague about “to-die-for” Banana Fritters. This was it.

I almost missed the banana fritters. Thank goodness I didn’t because these are AMAZING. $3 for 6 pieces of perfectly battered, deep fried bananas.

I wasn’t expecting much because come on, it’s banana. But OH MY GOD. The bananas are sliced length-wise and thickly battered so it develops a crispy and crunchy batter while frying. And they’re sweet, which is good because the batter itself doesn’t have any flavour.

I’m still thinking about these banana fritters. The next time you’re at Golden Mile Complex, you HAVE TO get this.

Okay moving on into the Thai Supermarket. Did you know they have Sriracha here?

There’re so many things to buy here. From Knorr stock cubes with obscure flavours to multiple brands of instant Tom Yum soup powders and industrial-size toilet rolls, the Thai Supermarket basically brought the best of Thailand’s packaged goods to Singapore.

Also, please stop asking friends to buy the Cha Tra Mue Instant Thai Milk Tea back from Bangkok. Just come to Golden Mile Complex.

There’s also a Vietnamese section in the Thai Supermarket. I’m living for this kind of cultural support. Anyway, I bought a packet of honey gummies and a bowl of instant Pho. It’s a supermarket. I’m not coming out of it empty-handed. #Auntie

So, having refuelled on more banana fritters, we explored further. There were plenty of brandless clothing stores. Like Bugis Street but slightly more fashion.

There’s also a lot of mookata action going on around us so it wasn’t that dodgy. Yet.

We took the escalator up to the 3rd level of the mall and that’s where things got a little shadier. This is where the Thai discos, KTV lounges and massage parlours were located.

It’s hard to feel secure because just simply walking past these establishments warrants multiple soul-boring stares from the people working there.

There wasn’t much action going on besides an uncle or 2 hanging around the massage parlours. Then again, it was a Tuesday night.

The back corridors were quiet and dingy. We found a room and the door had a piece of paper stuck on it. Was it supposed to be an office?

We could hear movement inside and people were starting to stare at us because we were loitering for a little too long, so we left. Only to come face to face with a long corridor.

There was something about this corridor, because my mind was screaming and telling me not to go any further. It wasn’t just me – my colleague was feeling it too.

Long story short, we bailed and headed back down to the first level.

Now, when in Thailand, eat Mango Sticky Rice. So we did, at Diandin Leluk.

The Mango Sticky Rice ($6) was pretty good. The mango was sweet, the sticky rice had good texture, and they were generous with the coconut milk. My only gripe was that there wasn’t enough sticky rice.

I’ve never had Tako ($3) before. But my colleague loves it so I gave it a try. It’s a coconut pudding with sweet corn kernels and sweet potato chunks.

There were a lot of things going on in a single bite; lots of different textures and flavours, but I didn’t hate it. Solid 5/7, will order again.

Overall, my virgin trip to Golden Mile Complex was a rollercoaster of emotions. Disgust, wonder, amazement, fear and satisfaction. What exhilaration.

Honestly, I’ll probably come back, if not for the banana fritters (HNNNNGHHH), to restock on my Thai Milk Tea supply at home.

If you’re visiting, do yourself a favour and stay clear of the upper levels because they’re hella dodgy.

Also read There’s Finally A Halal Boat Noodle Place In S’pore – And It’s Only $1.90 A Bowl

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

This Aroi Mak Nasi Ambeng Swaps Rendang And Achar For Green Curry And Mango Salad

As a proud Malay millennial, I get extremely excited when I hear these two words: “nasi” and “ambeng”.

Nasi Ambeng (pronounced Nasi Um-Bng) is a classic Javanese dish that is usually shared between 3 to 4 people.

The dish consists of a mountain of rice in the middle of the platter, surrounded by other traditional Javanese dishes such as ayam masak lemak, fried tempeh, begedil, urap, sambal goreng and beef rendang (which is technically Minangkabau but let’s not get into that).

You’ll find plenty of restaurants serving this traditional dish. However, the version at Sticky Rice stands out from the rest with their Thai Style Nasi Ambeng.

Old Dish, New Flavours

The Rice Platter ($28.50), as the Nasi Ambeng dish is named at Sticky Rice, comes with a generous portion of fragrant steamed white rice, fried beef strips, mango salad, fish cakes, spring rolls, green curry chicken, stir-fried vegetables, and “son-in-law” eggs.

If you’re wondering what the “son-in-law” eggs are, you’re not the only one.

This egg dish is also known as Khai Luk Khoei. It’s basically hard boiled eggs that are deep fried so they have a crispy golden skin. It is served with a sweet-sour sauce – made from tamarind and fish sauce.

This Rice Platter also comes with a small bowl of Thai Green Curry, which in my dictionary, is the most essential dish in Thai cuisine. The green curry is mild and light which helps in balancing out the flavours of all the other dishes.

It also comes with a green mango salad which ties the entire dish together with it’s tangy and spicy flavour.

This platter is perfect shared among 2-3 people. If you’re feeling a little peckish, go alone. We dare you.

However, if you’re not looking for a heavy afternoon lunch, you can also opt for the Pad Thai Platter ($28.50) which basically replaces the rice with a mountain of chicken pad thai.

This platter comes with a side of omelette strips, crispy chicken skin, prawns, bean sprouts, peanuts, lime and chilli powder. All you have to do is mix everything together and enjoy!

If you’re not up for a huge feast, you can order individual dishes from their menu as well. Best part, they have vegan options for all you vegans out there. Now everyone can enjoy quality food together.

We highly recommend you to take a trip to Sticky Rice for a taste of Thailand here in Singapore. Aroi mak!

Sticky Rice
Address: 23 Bali Lane, Singapore 189859
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 9.30pm, Fri – Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm, Closed on Sundays
Contact no.: 6294 0118
Singapore’s First Vegan Ice Cream Joint Takes The ‘Guilty’ Away From Pleasure

(Header Image Source: Sticky Rice Facebook)

This Thai Bakery Is Baking Up A Storm Of Fluffy Loaves – And You Knead To Try It

Thai Baàng holds a special place in our heart, for we believe that they make one of the best breads in Singapore. This bakery may be small, but the bread they churn out isn’t.

Located in the corner of Kitchener Complex at Lavender, this Thai bakery also recently opened their second outlet at Orchard Xchange.

Tradition Brings Comfort

Following her love for traditional comfort Thai Bread she discovered on a trip to Thailand early 2017, Jovi – owner of Thai Baàng, left her job as a financial advisor to open up this bakery.

After spending a few months in Bangkok to pick up the art of making traditional Thai bread, Jovi opened Thai Baàng in mid-2017.

Particular about the quality of bakes that leaves her bakery, everything is made fresh daily in the kitchen she has in both stores.

With no preservatives or bread softener added, each bread is baked in a tin container to help hold it’s shape and keep it warm, even after sitting out for 30 minutes. This helps to keep the bread soft and fluffy on the inside, creating that soft and chewy texture.

With over 30 flavours of bread in their shop, here are some of their most popular flavours:

Banana Chocolate Bread ($2.70)

They have a variety of sweet breads but this is perhaps our favourite of them all! The dark chocolate and mashed banana complemented each other well without being overly sweet.

Thai Milk Tea Butter Sugar ($3.00)

What’s Thailand without their Thai Milk Tea? If you love Thai Milk tea then this bread is right up your alley. Honestly, we can eat this bread in one sitting.

Thai Milk Tea With Chocolate ($3.00)

If the plain one doesn’t cut it for you, then we highly recommend the Thai Milk Tea with Chocolate bread. This is perfect for all chocolate lovers. Just like the Banana Chocolate bread, this option comes with chunks of chocolate in every bite.

What draws us to their bread is that they do not skimp on the ingredients used in their bakes.

Curry Chicken ($2.70)

This is the perfect alternative to curb your cravings for curry chicken. This bread comes with generous portions of chicken, egg, sausage which blends well with the soft and chewy texture of the bread.

Tom Yam Chicken ($2.70)

Fresh out of the oven, this bread smelled heavenly and we just couldn’t wait to dig in.

This bread tastes exactly like sipping on a hot, spicy bowl of tom yam soup in BKK.

Mushroom Vege ($2.70)

Remember those old school bakery that sells mushroom mayo buns?

This option brings back those memories – except that this bread got a whole new upgrade. Put together the savoury mushrooms and crunchy radish along with the soft, fluffy bread, this is the perfect comfort food for kids and adults alike.

Asides from the bread, Thai Baàng also sells other delicacies such as the Chili Shrimp Glutinous Rice ($1.50). Just like how their breads are generously filled, this was no exception as well!

Don’t be fooled by it’s colour as the chilli shrimp is honestly not that spicy! This delicacy has just the right amount of spice and balanced proportion between the chilli shrimp and glutinous rice.

You can also look forward to their selection of cakes.

We love the Banana Chocolate Cake ($7.00) which consists of of a layer of chocolate sponge cake atop a layer of banana cake. Both flavours blended well with each other in this moist cake.

Last but not least, they also have a selection of Swiss Rolls starting from $5. From Traditional Butter Kaya ($5) to Coffee Rum And Raisin ($5.50), their swiss rolls makes the perfect afternoon tea snack!

Thai Baàng’s fresh bakes will have you hooked at first bite and are totally worth a trip down! So if you’re looking for an alternative from BreadTalk or Four Leaves, we highly recommend getting the breads from this Thai bakery instead.

Come early and you might just catch a fresh batch out of the oven! You can also give Jovi a call to reserve your breads as they run out fast.

Thai Baàng Bakery (Lavender)
Address: 809 French Road #01-41, Kitchener Complex, Singapore 200809
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 8.30pm, Sat: 8:30am – 8pm, Sun: 9am – 7:30pm
Contact no.: 9722 1213
Website

Thai Baàng Bakery (Orchard Xchange)
Address: 437 orchard road, B1-37 Orchard MRT Station, Singapore 238878
Directions: Orchard MRT Exit A, head up the escalator on your left and turn right
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 8.30pm, daily
Contact no.: 9722 1213
Website

Also read An Oldie But A Goodie: Canteen 398 At Seletar Is Possibly The Longest Surviving Canteen In S’pore

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

After You’s Thai Thai Must Try Shibuya Toasts Are Coming To S’pore For One Weekend

As part of The Finest Thai Festival organized by the Royal Thai Embassy, After You will be bringing their sweet desserts to Singapore so that you don’t have to step one foot off the island to feast on their legnedary Shibuya Toasts.

This weekend, from 8 to 10 September, stop by the Thai Embassy in Orchard to explore the best of Thailand.

There’s always room for dessert

This is the first time ever that After You will be coming to Singapore, even if its just for one weekend. This is your chance to eat all the Shibuya toasts!

Their most popular item is the Shibuya Honey Toast, that comes in all sorts of flavors like sticky toffee, cheese, strawberry cream and nutella. There’s even a durian sticky rice shibuya toast!

The Shibuya Special Black Toast is for those wondering how charcoal toast would taste like.

If that’s too much bread for you, After You also has other desserts like buttermilk pancakes, brownies, and an absolutely delicious chocolate lava cake.

Eat, shop, try the lucky draw. Repeat!

Besides After You, there are plenty of other Thai food stalls, local brands and fashion designers that will be at the festival.

Aromatherapy label HARNN is one to look out for if you love natural, soothing skin care. They carry everything from essential oils to body scrubs, so that you can recreate the spa experience in the privacy of your own home. April’s Bakery will also be bringing their trademark pork pies that currently aren’t available at the Singapore outlets – be sure to grab one while they’re hot!

Another reason to stop by the festival is the Thai traditional lucky draw at the Soi-Dao Tree by the Sansiri Family, where you stand a chance daily to win a round-trip to Bangkok from Singapore.

If you are planning on stopping by The Finest Thai Festival, remember to bring loads of cash as NETS or credit cards are not accepted.

It’s going to be an exciting weekend, so be sure to go early so that you won’t miss out anything.

The Finest Thai
Address: Royal Thai Embassy, 370 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238870
Date: 8-10 September, 12pm – 9pm
Website

Also read Prodigal Roasters Has The Most Bizarre Cheese Tart Flavors To Complement Their Seasonal Coffee Menu

(Header Image Source: beterinaryo/ After You)

These Pretty Pink Drinks Are Bangkok’s Latest Tea Trend, Because Thai Milk Tea Is So 2015

Thai-everything has been a huge hit among Singaporeans in the past couple of years.

With the incredible turnout at Artbox Singapore in March, and with the hype constantly brewing around food and drink trends coming out of the country, Singaporeans’ love for all things Thai is plain to see.

If you’re a fan of Thai milk tea, Cha Tra Mue is a brand you’ll recognise. You’ve probably seen its logo on tea tins and bags either stowed away on a high shelf, or found sitting out in the open whenever you order some of the delicious orange coloured tea.

A New Tea Trend In Thailand

Cha Tra Mue, which literally translates into ‘Number One Tea’, recently kicked off a brand new tea trend in Thailand – a rose tea drink, which is tea brewed from rose petals.

The tea brand has released 3 spins on the fragrant floral tea.

These teas come in pretty hues of pink and are served in plastic cups with a romantic floral design that perfectly complements the drink. Super Insta-worthy, you’ll want to get plenty of fun shots of your drink before you start downing these.

The Rose Milk Tea is the only milk tea of the lot, with a milky pink appearance and the light aroma of rose.

If refreshing is what you’re looking for, you’ll find it in the Lychee Rose Tea, which combines the fragrance of rose with the light sweetness of lychee.

Finally, there is the Honey Rose Tea, which is sweeter than the other two. As with the other drinks, the rose fragrance comes through strongly, making this the perfect cooling drink on a warm day in Singapore’s heat!

Not just a pretty drink, the rose in the tea comes packed with benefits according to Cha Tra Mue. Apparently, some of the benefits of rose include detoxification, laxative effects for those with constipation and weight loss.

Just Our Cup Of Tea

Cha Tra Mue currently has 4 outlets in Singapore: Far East Square, Tanjong Pagar XChange, Clifford Center, and Savourworld.

Conveniently located so you can order a cup and take it with on the go, break away from your usual bubble tea order and opt for this pretty pink drink instead!

Cha Tra Mue
Address: Far East Square, 137 Amoy Street #01-05
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 9am – 6pm; Closed on PH
Contact no.: 9429 3886

Address: 120 Maxwell Road, Tanjong Pagar Xchange, #B1-35
Opening Hours: Mon: 8.30am – 6.30pm; Tue – Fri: 8.15am – 6.30pm; Sat: 11am – 4pm; Closed on PH
Contact no.: 8350 4138

Address: Clifford Centre FoodFare, B1-K3, Raffles Place
Opening Hour: Mon – Fri: 9am – 6.30pm; Sat: 10am – 2.30pm; Closed on PH

Address: Savourworld, 2 Science Park Drive
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8am – 5.30pm; Closed on PH

Also read Best Thai Eateries In Singapore So You Don’t Have To Queue For 10,000 Years At Nakhon

(Header Image Source: Burpple User Doreen Tan, @kitch.neo)

This Tom Yam Hot Pot Lets You Dine Like Royalty With Its Premium Seafood

Love the rich, unique flavours of Thai cuisine? Considering how much Singaporeans love their Thai food, there aren’t many places you can go for some good, authentic Thai fare.

So, imagine our excitement when we found out about Soi Thai Soi Nice! After hearing about their Tom Yam hot pot, we knew we had to have a taste.

As its name suggests, Soi Thai Soi Nice is a restaurant serving Thai food.

Located at Alexandra Central Mall, the inside of the restaurant is a sight to behold with plush, red velvet dining chairs, gorgeous artwork on the walls, and a huge chandelier in the middle of the room!

With soft Thai pop music playing in the background, it’s not hard to imagine that you’re actually in Bangkok!

It was even harder to believe we were still in Singapore when the food started arriving at our tables!

First up was the Royal Thai Hot Pot ($68.80, for up to 4 pax), the signature dish at this restaurant, and boy did it make us feel like royalty.

This hot pot was an entire culinary experience in and of itself.

Filled to the brim with premium ingredients like crayfish, prawns, mussels, pork belly, enoki mushrooms, sausages, and hard boiled eggs, it came atop a bed of springy noodles, and in a home-made Tom Yam Soup base.

A fun fact we found out was that all the spices and ingredients used at this restaurant are directly imported from Bangkok to ensure authenticity. Also, we heard that their Head Chef, Worawong Phairat (Olay), also waited to have his personal kitchen utensils, woks and knives imported from Bangkok. Talk about attention to detail!

Next up was the Yum Khai Dao (Fried Egg Salad) ($6.80), the Kai Jiao Cha Om (Fried Omelette with Thai herb Cha Om) ($7.80) and the Kho Moo Yang (Grilled Pork Neck) ($9.80) that all came at once – not that we’re complaining.

Apparently, Cha Om is a very common Thai herb that can be found pretty much anywhere in Thailand. Our first bite left us speechless. No really, the flavours of the Kai Jiao Cha Om were hard to describe. All we could do was nod enthusiastically when asked if we enjoyed it, and hold ourselves back from licking the plate clean.

Next, we tried the Moo Sam Chan Tord (Deep Fried Pork Belly) ($9.80)…

…as well as the Chuchee Pla Kra Pong (Curry Seabass Fillet) ($13.80) and the Kung Chuchee (Curry Prawns) ($15.80).

To be honest, by this time, we were so overwhelmed by how delicious everything was, we forgot to take proper pictures of each dish.

Both the Curry Seabass Fillet and the Curry Prawns were super creamy, and were only mildly spicy.

Soi Thai Soi Nice provides dipping sauces with 4 different levels of spiciness: Mild, Spicy, Very Spicy and Extra Spicy. Considering how spicy Thai food can get, we love the fact that you can tailor the spiciness to your own tolerance levels!

The final dish was their Hor Mok Ma Praw Talay (Coconut Seafood Otah) ($12.80).

For this dish, prawns, squid and otah came served in a coconut husk, alongside bits of soft, sweet coconut flesh. The gentle crunch of the coconut served as a pleasant surprise, in contrast to the other more tender components of the dish. Overall, this dish is definitely one for the coconut lovers.

And finally, dessert! By this time, we were all stuffed, but our second stomachs (yes, we have a second stomach for dessert) were ready the moment dessert arrived.

No Thai meal is complete without Kao Niao Ma Muang (Mango Sticky Rice) ($5.80), but we were certainly surprised to see the ever famous Coconut Ice Cream presented in the same manner in the Kao Niao I-Team (Sticky Rice with Coconut Ice Cream) ($5.80).

With dessert comes heavy hearts–for it means dinner is coming to an end.

In all, the food here not only looked great but tasted fantastic as well. Coming in perfect sharing portions and boasting a huge array of Thai flavours, it’s definitely a great place to take your friends or the whole family!

Soi Thai Soi Nice
Address: 321 Alexandra Rd, #02-01 Alexandra Central Mall, S159971
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri: 11.30am-3.30pm and 6pm- 10pm; Sat-Sun, PH: 11.30am to 10pm
Contact no.: 6250 4863

Also read Goodbye Artbox, Hello Thai Festival – Authentic Thai Eats Without The Heat Or The Crowd

Goodbye Artbox, Hello Thai Festival – Authentic Thai Eats Without The Heat Or The Crowd

If you’re feeling the regret from not heading to Artbox or you just can’t get enough of Thai goodies and eats, fret not because the Thai Festival is coming to our shores!

Happening at the Royal Thai Embassy right in the heart of Orchard Road, this all-Thai festival will offer up your favourite Thai dishes, alongside apparel and knick-knacks.

Popular Thai dishes like pad thai, mango sticky rice and thai milk tea will be up for sale. Look out for performances that highlight Thai culture like Muay Thai and traditional Thai dance performances.

If you’re looking for an authentic Thai experience without having to fly out of the country, head on down to Thai Festival 2017!

Thai Festival 2017
Address: Royal Thai Embassy, 370 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238870
Date: 4-7 May 2017
Time: 10 AM – 9 PM

Also read, Best Thai Eateries In Singapore So You Don’t Have To Queue For 10,000 Years At Nakhon